Auburn Gear High Performance Positraction for Ford 10.25" and 10.5" (full-float). The Auburn Gear limited slip uses a long-proven cone design to provide traction for performance and off-road applications. Auburn warranties their units for one year against manufacturing defects. These units are non-rebuildable.
Detroit Locker for Ford 10.25" and 10.5" full float differential. The Detroit Locker provides maximum traction for off-road or racing use. The heavy-duty case and internals provide a dramatic increase in strength while giving 100% torque to both tires. The mechanically-operated unit works by locking while under power and unlocking when you let off the gas, allowing you to turn. Unit comes standard with a one year warranty against workmanship defects.
The (Ford) Trac Loc is a less aggressive, street-friendly limited slip suitable for daily driven vehicles and mild off-road use.
From me...
I have several friends that are farmers and cattle ranchers and really work the trucks they drive. The Ford drivers swear by the detroit locker. It locks under power and most of the drivers I know are not driving through corners with enough power to engage the locking function.
The really severe drivers are spending more money on repairs and that is to be expected. Those guys take their rigs out in places that would scare a mountain goat!.
If you call the differential shops and ask opinions from them which type you shoud use given your driving conditions you will get a better solution than letting Ford fix what you have. You already know that will not work for long.
IMO the Detroit Locker is the best option for you since you are off-road a lot but you should let the real experts help you decide.
My Ford is a 1975 F250 Highboy with full time four wheel drive, a high and low transfer case, and sealed knuckles. It is a great 4X4 but takes a country mile to turn it around. It is the rig I learned to drive in and it is now a third generation truck and mostly a play toy now. I plan to pass it to my son. More frequently I drive my 1999 Dodge 2500 Diesel 4x4.
Auburn Gear High Performance Positraction for Ford 10.25" and 10.5" (full-float). The Auburn Gear limited slip uses a long-proven cone design to provide traction for performance and off-road applications. Auburn warranties their units for one year against manufacturing defects. These units are non-rebuildable.
Detroit Locker for Ford 10.25" and 10.5" full float differential. The Detroit Locker provides maximum traction for off-road or racing use. The heavy-duty case and internals provide a dramatic increase in strength while giving 100% torque to both tires. The mechanically-operated unit works by locking while under power and unlocking when you let off the gas, allowing you to turn. Unit comes standard with a one year warranty against workmanship defects.
The (Ford) Trac Loc is a less aggressive, street-friendly limited slip suitable for daily driven vehicles and mild off-road use.
As stated the Ford limited slip system is not working for me. I am not looking for a racing or rock crawling. I need real 4 wheel drive. I will check out the positraction.
Quote:
Originally Posted by shermybaby
From me...
I have several friends that are farmers and cattle ranchers and really work the trucks they drive. The Ford drivers swear by the detroit locker. It locks under power and most of the drivers I know are not driving through corners with enough power to engage the locking function.
The really severe drivers are spending more money on repairs and that is to be expected. Those guys take their rigs out in places that would scare a mountain goat!.
If you call the differential shops and ask opinions from them which type you shoud use given your driving conditions you will get a better solution than letting Ford fix what you have. You already know that will not work for long.
IMO the Detroit Locker is the best option for you since you are off-road a lot but you should let the real experts help you decide.
My Ford is a 1975 F250 Highboy with full time four wheel drive, a high and low transfer case, and sealed knuckles. It is a great 4X4 but takes a country mile to turn it around. It is the rig I learned to drive in and it is now a third generation truck and mostly a play toy now. I plan to pass it to my son. More frequently I drive my 1999 Dodge 2500 Diesel 4x4.
I will look further into the Detroit Locker. I only have a few places in town to go. Every one keeps telling me to go to one place. I will go back and ask about the Positraction.
If the Positraction is the answer then I can swap the rear end myself. If it requires a removal/rebuild then i leave it to the professionals.
Having done quite a few 8.8 gear changes, I can tell you that the clutch pack is probably the problem, that you feel you are having. Not a difficult repair if you want to do it yourself...
There HAS to be a compromise between being able to drive on the street and being able to drive on dirt snow etc, and limited slip is the answer used, for good reason, on most all standard trucks.
might I suggest a slightly different and less costly option to the locker? and one that can travel with you to your next truck?
A winch. A good winch used properly will allow you to self extract from some really gnarley stuff.
__________________
See our blog here on how two RV/AS rookies tackle a 1979 Sovereign resto!!
Link to just the photos.. (sometimes you don't need the blog, just a picture worth a thousand words..)
1979 Sovereign International
2004 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer
2 Golden Retrievers
Having done quite a few 8.8 gear changes, I can tell you that the clutch pack is probably the problem, that you feel you are having. Not a difficult repair if you want to do it yourself...
There HAS to be a compromise between being able to drive on the street and being able to drive on dirt snow etc, and limited slip is the answer used, for good reason, on most all standard trucks.
might I suggest a slightly different and less costly option to the locker? and one that can travel with you to your next truck?
A winch. A good winch used properly will allow you to self extract from some really gnarley stuff.
The compromise of limited slip is not working. I am looking for a rear end that will drive both tires effectively. I only want to use the front end to get me un-stuck. If that does not work. A winch is a good option.
The compromise of limited slip is not working. I am looking for a rear end that will drive both tires effectively. I only want to use the front end to get me un-stuck. If that does not work. A winch is a good option.
Don't take this wrong, but it is working (the compromise). If you ever have the joy of driving a locked rear wheel drive on pavement you will know why you want it unlocked as soon as you make your first turn. I ran with a "spool" which is a type of locked rear end for about a year in my daily driver mustang. trust me you really don't want to put up with that if you don't have to. There is no way to set up clutch packs in any limited slip differential to always lock up when you want them to.
If going to a locker is the only answer you want to hear, then ARB is good, but requires an air source to lock and unlock, no big thing, just part of the deal. Eaton and Auburn are talked of well where I race.
What I learned in 20+ years of working on and using many types of off road vehicles for a living, is true four wheel drive allows you to get twice as stuck as two wheel or open diff four wheel drive. Not a great thing to have happen, because it's twice as hard to get unstuck.
honestly, a winch is cheaper, more versatile and portable to your future vehicle...
__________________
See our blog here on how two RV/AS rookies tackle a 1979 Sovereign resto!!
Link to just the photos.. (sometimes you don't need the blog, just a picture worth a thousand words..)
1979 Sovereign International
2004 Ford Expedition Eddie Bauer
2 Golden Retrievers
After much research and reading I have decided to go with an ARB air locker. The most expensive option. No surprise there. Seems I gravitate to expensive things.
I looked long and hard at the Detroit Locker. I would prefer to have direct control of the locking of the rear end.
The ARB air locker will be about 30% more expensive. I will pay this for direct control of the rear end. ARB does not have an Electric locker for my truck. That would have cheaper and easier.
At least I will always have an on board air compressor! I can inflate my tires and my rear air bags. I will no longer have to carry a compressor and generator.
Hi, I think you made a wise decision. Limited slip was not designed for what you wanted it to do, now you know. I'm glad you have seen the light; I don't think you would have gone cheap on an airplane, so why go cheap with your truck and trailer. I'm sure you will be happy. I will be calling you to pull me out when I get stuck with my Lincoln.
As a former serious off roader I can tell you a Detroit Locker could not be beat a compromise was the Truetrac less expensive and no clutches.
Detroit Locker was sold to Eaton (I think) so I don't know if it is the same locker.
The Detroit Locker would really make a noise engaging while you could hardly tell when the Truetrac locked up. I don't know if the Truetrac is still available but if it is it would be the one I would go for.
Well it's done. This morning I had the ARB air locker installed. I spent a lot of time getting the air compressor and air tank mounted. It turned out well. I welded up a steel platform, bolted it to the frame and mounted the compressor and two gallon air tank on the platform. I now have the capability to inflate whatever if necessary. Oh it is also connected to my air bag system as well.
Well, if you were running "bags," you were halfway to the ARB. I still think the TrueTrac is a good technology... although after getting stuck this past weekend, the next truck is going to be a four-wheel drive.
Well, if you were running "bags," you were halfway to the ARB. I still think the TrueTrac is a good technology... although after getting stuck this past weekend, the next truck is going to be a four-wheel drive.
Most four wheel drive systems are two wheel drive. One front one rear. Unless you have locking differntials or traction control. I was told by the service tech where I had my air locker installed that the front only locks one front wheel. I am not sure about that. I will find out this weekend. Extra weight in the back will help as well.
I put an electric locking rear diff in our old 89 Bronco, along with a Detroit Trutrac LS in the front axle (with manual lock hubs) - it's a great combination...the rear diff has a LS till you flip the switch and then it locks up both rear wheels for max traction...
I've been in situations where I had rear wheel slip - locked it up, and drove right out - didn't even need the front axle engaged!
I've never heard of only one wheel being locked in the front axle...there are all sorts of 4x4 'systems' out there, maybe some of the IFR suspensions do that sort of thing, where one side is constantly engaged, and you then can lock up the other side with the cab control to get the front wheel drive operating...sounds confusing to me...
Our Excursion (used or towing the AS) currently doesn't have a LS in the rear, wish it did!...don't know if Auburn makes an electric locking unit for our Ford's rear axle...if so it would be my first choice, as it's easy to hook up once the diff is installed, requiring only a switch up front, PLUS you get a LS in the diff for normal running...
Have fun with your new set-up...
__________________ Let us not be too particular; it is better to have old secondhand Airstreams than none at all. Mark Twain, updated (org...diamonds)
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1978 - 28 ft Ambassador (Blue Halo)
2001 - Ford Excursion V-10 4x4
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